Cigarette lighter



July 7, 1931. L. H. OFFUTT CIGARETTE LIGHTER Filed April 8, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l flair-i2. I .16

July 7, 1931. 1.. H. OFFUTT CIGARETTE LIGHTER Filed April 8. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 7, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LAWRENCE HENRY OFFUTT, 0F RASPEBURG, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR T0 D. R. S. COIM- PANY INQ, 0F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND CIGARETTE LIGHTER Application filed April 8, 1929. Serial No. 353,535.

This invention relates to a combined cigarette container and lighter, the primary object of the invention being to provide a device of, this character especially adapted for use on motor vehicles, although it is to be understood that the device may be conveniently positioned on motor boats, or other plagles where internal combustion engines are use The primary object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is so constructed that when the drawer is withdrawn for the container to remove a cigarette, the cigarette will be automatically lighted. f I

Another object of the invention is to provide a container having a hopper bottom, one section of the hopper bottom being pivoted so that it will automatically assume a horizontal position when the drawer is withdrawn, so that only one cigarette at a time may pass into the cigarette groove of the drawer, thereby insuring against the cigarette being crushed or broken when the drawer is withdrawn.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a pivoted handle for the drawer, which handle has connection with a pivoted lifting member for raising the cigarette from the cigarette groove of the drawer so that the cigarette may be readily removed.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the com bination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a device constructed in accordance with the invention, and showing the device as positioned in an opening of an instrument board.

Figure 2 is a rear elevational view thereof.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view through the device.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 55 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on line 77 of Figure 4.

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail view of the cigarette engaging member that holds the cigarette in the cigarette groove of the drawer.

Figure 9 is a front elevational view showing the position of the cigarette engaging member, when the drawer is in its closed position. i

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken on line 10-1O of Figure 4..

Figure 11 is a sectional view taken on line 11-11 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference character 5 designates "the body portion of the device, which is formed with a flange 6 provided with openings to receive securing screws for securing the body portion in an opening formed in the instrument board of a motor vehicle.

The hopper of the body portion includes a front wall 7 and a vertically swinging bottom 8 to which the plate 9 is secured, the plate 9 extending from the lower surface of the bottom 8, as clearly shown by Figure 3 of the drawings.

The front edge of the plate 9 is inclined as at 10 to engage the rear edge of the drawer or .slide 1-1, so thatwhen the drawer is moved to its closed position, the bottom 8 will be swung upwardly so that a cigarette may fall by gravity into the groove 12, formed adjacent to the front end of the drawer.

A filling opening 13 is provided at the upper end of the body portion and affords means whereby cigarettes may be placed in the body portion. At one end of the groove 12 is a resistance element 14.- which glows when electric energy passes therethrough, to light the cigarettecontained in the groove; and which in the present showing is indicated by the reference character 15.

Arranged at the opposite end of the cigarette groove 12 is an opening 16 that estaband the tube 17 which tube 17 slides in the tube 18 that in turn is in communication with the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine, through the pipe 19, the tube 17 having an'opening 20 that registers with the tube v19 so that a suction will be created through the opening 16, tubes 17 and 19 to draw air through a cigarette lying in the groove 12, it being understood t at one end of thecigarette rests in proximity to the opening 16.

Pivotally supported adjacent to one end of the cigarette groove 12,'and arranged directly thereover, is a pivoted cigarette engaging member 21 that normally acts to urge the cigarette held in the groove 12, downwardly to insure a suction through the cigarette when the drawer has been moved to cause the opening 20 to register with the tube 19.

One edge of the body portion is curved as at 22 so that the curved finger 23 of the member 21 may ride thereover and move the member 21 to a vertical position so that a cigarette may fall into the cigarette groove 12. Located at one side of the drawer is a switch includin contact members 24 and 25 respectively, which are in circuit with the battery of the motor vehicle, through the wires 26 and 27 respectively. These contact members 24 and 25 are also in circuit with the resistance wire 14, through the wires 28.

Secured within the lower portion of the body of the device, is a wedge-shaped member 29, formed of insulating material and so positioned that when the drawer is moved inwardly or to its closed position, the pointed extremit of the member 29 will move between t e contact members 24 and 25 to break the circuit, it being obvious that the contact member 24 will move to en age the contact member 25 when the drawer 1s moved to its open position or to a position away from the member 29.

Thus it will be obvious that when the drawer is moved to its open position so that a cigarette may be removed therefrom, electrlc ener passing through the resistance wire 14 will cause it to become heated and because of the suctionv assing through the tubes 17 and 19, it W1 he seen that the cigarette will be lighted. In order that tobacco or other foreign matter may not pass into the intake manifold, a screen 30 is provided over the opening 16, excluding such foreign matter.

The handle by means of which the drawer is moved to its open and closed positions, is indicated by the reference character 31 and is, provided with a shaft 32 that extends inwardly adjacent to the bottom of the groove 12 where it is supplied with a plate 32' that operates in any opening formed in the bottom site sides of the plate 32 and'act to prevent lishes communication between the groove 12 l ateral movement of a cigarette elevated thereby. When the drawer has been moved to its open position and the cigarette con- The rear end of the plate 32' extends be yond the shaft 32 to lock the plate 32' against movement when the drawer is in its closed position, the extended end of the plate being indicated by the reference character '34 and as shown, rests on the lug 35 located within the body portion of the device.

In order that the shaft 32 and'plate 32' connected therewith, will be limited in their movements to elevate a cigarette, a in 40 is provided, which pin extends from t e shaft 32 and is adapted to contact with the spring finger 37 when the pin 40 reaches the limit of its upward movement. 7

A cigarette fire extinguisher indicated. at 36 may be positioned adjacent to the device so that cigarettes may be forced thereinto, and since the cigarette fire extinguisher may be in direct communication with a pipe extending under the vehicle, it will be seen that the cigarettes may be deposited on the ground surface without the necessity of opening and closing the doors or windows.

It might be further stated that the spring finger indicated by the reference character 37 is secured to the bottom of the drawer and is provided with a hooked extremity 38- end thereof, said groove being of a size to receive'a cigarette, a tube at one end of the groove, said tube being in\communication with the cove, a pipe connected .with the tube and aving connection with a suction producing means, to draw air through the cigarette, a heating element at one end of the groove, and a ivoted member on the drawer operating a ove the groove to engage one end of a cigarette held in the groove to press the cigarette into the groove and close the upper surface of one end of the groove.

2. In a cigarette holder and lighter, portion, a drawer. slidably mounted ody portion, said drawer having a groove disposed transversely thereof and arranged along the front end thereof, said groove adapted to receive a cigarette, a vertically swinging bottom in the bod portion, said vertically swinging bottom eing pivotally mounted at the forward end thereof, a plate in the secured to the bottom of the vertically swinging member, said plate having an inclined edge engaged by the drawer to swing the vertically swinging member upwardly, and means for holding a cigarette in the groove of the drawer.

Intestimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature.

LAWRENCE HENRY OFFUTT. 

